In response to Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as capital of Israel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said his country plans moving its embassy to East Jerusalem.
“The day is close when officially, with God’s permission, we will open our embassy there,” said Erdoğan
The Turkish President has urged Muslim leaders at the summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Istanbul last wednesday to recognize Jerusalem as “the occupied capital” of Palestine.
Jerusalem, revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, is home to Islam’s third holiest shrine as well as Judaism’s Western Wall – both in the eastern sector – and has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.
Foreign embassies in Israel, including Turkey’s, are located in Tel Aviv, reflecting Jerusalem’s unresolved status.
A communique issued after Wednesday’s summit of more than 50 Muslim countries, including US allies, said they considered Trump’s move to be a declaration that Washington was withdrawing from its role “as sponsor of peace” in the Middle East.
